Floor constructions and prefabricated members therefor



Jan. 26, 1943. P. GOODMAN 2,309,389

FLOOR CONSTRUCTIONS AND PREFABRICATED MEMBERS THEREFOR Filed June 11, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l ZSnventor PER-UIVAL GOODMAN Patented Jan. 26, 1943 OFFICE 2,309,389 A FLOOR CON STRUCTIONS AND PREFABRI- CATED MEMBERS THEREFOR Percival Goodman, New York, N. Y. Application June 11, 1940, Serial No. 339,844 13 Claims. (01. 20-6) This invention relates to floor constructions and to prefabricated floor members or units adapted and constructed to be readily assembled and installed in the floor surface.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a floor member constructed and arranged to be supported at its opposite ends by spaced floor-supporting means and capable of carrying reversed stresses under concentrated loads.

Another object of the invention is to provide a floor member which is of light weight and which need be supported only at its opposite ends and yet be capable of supporting heavy loads without sagging.

A further object of the invention is to provide a floor member of such construction that it can be formed of ply-wood or other relatively fragile or light material and yet be capable of supporting usual floor loads, with a proper factor of safety.

A further object of the invention is to provide a floor member having the above described characteristics and which can be formed of "Bakelite or of any other suitable plastic. In this connection the invention contemplates the construction of the floor member either by casting or molding the same in one piece or by making the same from initially separate parts.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a floor member constructed and arranged so that it need be supported only at the opposite ends thereof at points adjacent the opposite sides of a room of average width, whereby said member can also be utilized in conjunction with similar members for forming the ceiling of a room below.

'A yet further object of the invention is generally to provide prefabricated floor members which are light in weight and which are well adapted to be readily assembled for forming a floor whereby to improve, simplify and facilitate the construction of the floor.

The above objects of the invention and other objects which might hereinafter appear will be fully understood from the following description considered with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of part of a floor con- :fructed in accordance with the present inven- Fig. 2 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

side by side relation for defining the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, on a still larger scale, of one end of a floor member embodying the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a floor member which can be used in forming the floor illustrated in Fig. 31s a sectionaLview, on a larger scale, on

- Fig. 1, illustrtaing a modification;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an end view, on a larger scale, of the floor member illustratedinFig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a sectional of a floor member the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the floor illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a plurality of view of the end portion illustrating another form of .floor members l0 embodying the present invention. As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 each floor member l0 corresponds in length to the width of the room between two uprights l2 which may be parts of the opposite side walls-oi the room. Said floor members are, as here shown, supported only at their opposite ends on spaced floor-supporting means which may include beams or the equivalent l4 and vertical supports l6.

Each floor member ill comprises a top plate ill, a bottom plate and triangulation means 22 disposed between said two plates and extending longitudinally thereof, that is, in a direction running between the opposite ends of said plates. all of said elements being rigidly united to form a unitary rigid member. The triangulation means comprises, in the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3, transversely disposed webs 220, each corrugated, bent, or otherwise formed to provide a series of alternately upwardly and downwardly converging companion portions 24, 26 and 26, 28, respectively, in substantially the fulilength of the floor member. The upper ends 30 of upwardly converging portions 24, 26 of the web are preferably flat and are united with top plate l8, and the lower ends 32 of the downwardly converging portions 26, 28 are also preferably flat and are firmly united with the bottom plate 20. The opposite end portions 34 of each triangulation web 22a is inclined upwardly and outwardly toward the adjacent end of top plate l8 and have outwardly projecting horizontal portions 36 firmly united with the adjacent end portions of top plate l8. The opposite ends 38 of lower plate 20 are similarly upwardly and outwardly inclined and have outwardly projectbe of the same thickness.

ing horizontal portions ll nrmly united with the adjacent upwardly inclined and outwardly projecting portions 34 and 36, respectively, of each triangulation web I! at the opposite ends thereof, respectively. A transversely extending shear member 42 is firmly united with bottom plate II at each end thereof. Shear members 42 reinforce the ends of each floor vide adequate protection against shear'stresses. The several parts of each floor member I! are firmly united to each other as lust described in any suitable way as, for example, by having their respective abutting surface portions firmly secured to each other preferably by glue, although other means of thus securing said members can be utilized.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, top plate It, bottom plate 20 as well as the triangu ation webs 22a can all be formed of ply-wood of more or less conventional construction and of suitable thickness and of a suitable number of plies. Thus, as here shown by way of example. top plate is is formed of flve plies indicated at 44, 4', ll, 50 and 52 secured together in face to face relation as customary in ply-wood construction. As illustrated in Fig. 4 the various plies need not Thus, for example, than the other plies. Bottom shown is formed of three plies Also, as here shown the triangulation webs 22a are formed of three plies I, 62 and 54. Bottom plate 2|! is somewhat thinner than top plate It but is preferably somewhat thicker than triangulation website. Each floor member II is provided with upper and lower members it and 6!, respectively, secured to and extending longitudinally of each preferably for the full ply 48 is' thicker plate 20 as here SI, 56 and 58.

length thereof and one side edge of the companion floor member in position to overlap the corresponding plates of a similar adjacent floor member to thereby provide a lap joint between adjacent floor members. For this purpose the outer edges of triangulation webs 22s are spaced inwardly of the outer side edges of the top and bottom plates of the companion floor member.

As illustrated in Fig. is of the same construction as the floor member l except that the triangulation means is constituted by a single web 22b, the opposite 101181. tudinal side edges of said web 22b being indicated at and being spaced inwardly'of the outer edges of the top and bottom plates l8 and 20, respectively. By reference to Figs. 7 and 8 which further illustrate the construction of floor members Ill as well as floor members li'la it will be observed that a space 12 is provided between shear member 42 and the inner surface of top plate It for the reception of part it of an adjacent similar floor member when said members are assembled for forming the floor.

As hereinbefore indicated, the top and bottom plates as well as the triangulation means of the floor members can be formed of various materials other than ply-wood, and further in 'this connection the invention contemplates utilizing ply material of "Bakelite or other plastic or other suitable sheet material in one or more of the plies of one or more of said elements of the floor member. For example, all of the plies can be formed of plastic or other non-fibrous sheet material or one or more piles of such material can be substituted for the ply of wood veneer which in conventional wood construction member II and pro- 4 mediate piles of 5 the floor member Ila asoasao is disposed with the grain thereof extcndlns at right angles to the grain of the other plies, ordinarily for preventing warping of the ply-wood. The strength of the warp preventing plies are notfully utilized in the ply-wood for resisting loads, while-on the other hand, by substituting for such warp preventing piles of wood, piles of non-fibrous material. warping of the composite ply material is prevented while at the same time the full value of all of the piles for resistinl loads is utilized. Thus, as illustrated in Fig, 9 the inner and outer plies I4 and ll of top plate II can be formed of ply-wood while an intermediate ply can be formed of a plastic, the grain of the wood of plies II and 1' extending in the direction of the length of plate It. Triangulation web I! and bottom plate 2| can be similarly formed of outer piles of wood and intera plastic. It will be understood that in'lieu of the wood plies each floor member can be formed entirely of a plastic, either in several plies or in a single layer of suitable thickness, in the top and bottom plates and'in the triangulation web or webs. It will also be understood that in lieu of forming the floor members II or its of separate parts, said members can be formed by molding or casting the same from a plastic or other suitable material. Shear members 42 can be formed of wood of suitable thickness or can be formed of any other suitable material and when the floor members are molded or cast, said shear members can be formed during the molding operation.

It will be understood that the end portions 3| and 32 of upwardly converging parts 24, 2t and of the downwardly converains parts it, 28 of the triangulation web or webs are relatively flat to provide an area of substantial extent for uniting said ends with the top and bottom plates. resp tively. This is more clearly shown in Fig. 9 which is drawn on a larger scale for this illustrative purpose. For example, the width of each end portion ll or I! is preferably of the order of two inches in a floor member which is about 14 feet long, the width of such floor member beingabout 4 feet. It will be understood, however, that the dimensions herein stated can be varied.

Thus, it ,is seen that the floor construction and the floor members hereinbefore described are well I adapted to accomplish the objects of the invention. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not restricted to the forms or embodiments herein shown or described but that, on the contrary, certain changes in the details and in the arrangement of parts may be made and will occur to skilled artisans in view of the present disclosure. Accordingly, I do not wish to be limited to the forms of the invention or to the details of construction herein described or illustrated except to the extent which may be required by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A floor member constructed and arranged to be mounted in horizontal position and supported in said position at its opposite ends by spaced floor-supporting means, said floor member comprising a top Plate, a bottom plate spaced from said top plate except at the ends of said two plates, intermediate triangulation means of sheet material disposed between said two plates and extending longitudinally thereof and having alternately upwardly and downwardly converging parts united at their upper and lower ends. re-

, panion end parts at each end,

panion end parts at each end, respectively, of

said bottom plate integral with said triangulation means and said bottom plate, respectively, and

inclined upwardly and outwardly toward the ad- 3 relation, and end portions integral with and projecting horizontally from said last mentioned companion parts outwardly of the latter and united with the adjacent end portions, respectively, of said top plate at each end of the floor member and thereby forming means for supporting the floor member at said opposite ends therejacent end of the top plate. said last mentioned upwardly inclined parts being united with each other in abutting face to face relation, and end portions integral with and projecting horizontally from said last mentioned companion parts outwardly of the latter and united with the adjacent end portions, respectively, of said top, plate at each end of the floor member and thereby forming means for supporting the floor member at said opposite ends thereof on said spaced floorsupporting means, said ends of said bottom plate being positioned above the intermediate part thereof.

2. A floor member constructed and arranged to be mounted in horizontal position and supported in said position at its opposite ends by spaced floor-supporting means, said floor member com prising a top plate, a bottom plate spaced from said top plate except at the ends of said two plates, intermediate triangulation means of sheet material disposed between said two plates and extending longitudinally thereof and having alternately upwardly and downwardly converging parts united at their upper and lower ends, respectively, with the adjacent portions of said top and bottom plates, respectively, said triangulation means and said bottom plate having comrespectively, of said bottom plate integral with said triangulation means and said bottom plate, respectively, and inclined upwardly and outwardly toward the adjacent end of the top plate, said last mentioned upwardly inclined parts being united with each other in face to face relation, end portions in tegral with and projecting horizontally from said last mentioned companion parts outwardly of the latter and united with the adjacent end portions, respectively, of said top plate at each end of the floor member and thereby forming means for supporting the floor member at said opposite ends thereof on said spaced floor-supporting means, said ends of said bottom plate being positioned above the intermediate part'thereof, and

means provided at said opposite end-supporting means for reinforcing the latter against shear stresses.

3. A fioor member constructed and arranged to be mounted'in horizontal position and supported in said position at its opposite ends by spaced floor-supporting means, said floor member comprising a top plate, a bottom plate spaced from said top plate except at the ends of said two plates,

at least one of said plates comprising a plurality of plies united with each other in' face to face relation, intermediate triangulation means of sheet material disposed between said two plates and extending longitudinally thereof and having alternately converging parts united at their upper and lower ends, respectively, with the adjacent portions of said top and bottom plates, respectively, said triangulation means and said bottom plate having companion end parts at each end, respectively, of said bottom plate integral with said triangulation means and said bottom plate, respectively, and inclined upwardly and outwardly toward the adjacent end of the top plate, said last mentioned upwardly inclined parts being united with each other in abutting face to face or on said spaced floor-supporting means, said ends of said bottom plate'being positioned above the intermediate part thereof.

4. A floor member constructed and arranged to be mounted in horizontal position and supported in said position at its opposite ends by spaced floor-supporting means, said floor member comprising a top plate forming part of the floor surface when said member is mounted in position, a bottom plate spaced from said top plate except at theends of said two plates, at least one of said plates comprising a plurality of plies united with each other in face to face relation, intermediate triangulation means of sheet material disposed between said two plates and extending longitudinally thereof and having'alternately upwardly and downwardly converging parts united at their upper and lower ends, respectively, with the adjacent portions of said top and bottom plates, respectively, said triangulation means comprising a plurality of plies united with each other in face to face relation,

said two plates and said intermediate triangula-- tion means being united at their adjacent end portions at each end, respectively, of the floor member, said united ends providing means for supporting said opposite ends of the floor member on said spaced floor-supporting means.

5. A floor member constructed and arranged to be mounted in horizontal position and supported in said position at its opposite ends by spaced floor-supporting means. said floor member comprising a top plate forming part of the floor surface when said member is mounted in position, a bottom plate spaced from said top plate except at the ends of said two plates, at least one ofsaid plates comprising a plurality of plies united with each other in face to face relation, intermediate triangulation means of sheet material disposed between said two plates and extending longitudinally thereof and having a1- ternately upwardly and downwardly converging parts united at their upper and lower ends, respectively, with the adjacent portions of said top and bottom plates, respectively, said triangulation means and said bottom plate having companion end parts at each end, respectively, of said bottom plate inclined upwardly and toward the adjacent end of the top plate, said last mentioned parts being united with each other in face to face relation, and end portions projecting horizontally from said last mentioned companion parts outwardly of the latter and united with the adjacent end portions, respectively, of said top plate at each end of the floor member and thereby forming means for supporting the floor member at said opposite ends thereof on said spacedfioorsupporting means.

6. A floor member constructed and arranged to be mounted in horizontal position and supported in said position at its opposite ends by spaced floor-supporting means, said floor member comprising a top plate forming part of the floor surface when said member is mounted in position, a bottom plate spaced from said top plate except at the ends of said two plates, at least one of said plates comprising a plurality of plies united with each other in face to face reunited with ing horizontally from -spaced floor-supporting means,

lation, intermediate-triangulation means of sheet material disposed between said two platesand extending longitudinally thereof and having alternately upwardly and-downwardly converging parts united attheir upper and lower ends, respectively, with the adjacent portions ofsaid top and bottom plates, respectively, said trianguiation' means comprising a plurality ,of plies each other in face to face relation, said triangulation means and said bottom plate having companion end parts at each end, respectively, of said bottom plate inclined upwardly and toward the adjacent end of the top plate, said last mentioned parts being united with each other in face to face relation, and end portions projectsaid last mentioned companion parts outwardly of the latter and united with the adjacent end portions, respectively, of said top plate at each end of the floor member and thereby forming means for supporting the floor member at said opposite ends thereof on said spaced floor-supporting means.

"I. A floor member constructed and'arranged to be mounted in horizontal position and supported in said position at its opposite ends by said floor member comprising a top plate forming part of the door surface when said member is mounted in position, a bottom plate spaced from said top plate except at the ends of said two plates, each of said plates comprising a plurality of plies united with each other in face to face relation. intermediate triangulation means of sheet mateported in said position at its opposite ends by rial disposed between said two plates and extend 1 ing longitudinally thereof and having alternately upwardly and downwardly convergin parts united at their upper and lower ends, respectively, with the adjacent portions of said top and bottom plates, respectively, said triangulation means and said bottom plate having companion end parts at each end. respectively, of said bottom plate inclined upwardly and toward the adjacent end of the top plate, said last mentioned parts being united with each other in face to face relation, and end portions projecting horizontally from said last mentioned companion parts outwardly of the latter and united with the adjacent end portions, plate at each end of the floor member and thereby forming means for supporting the floor member at said opposite ends thereof on said spaced floor-supporting means.

8. A floor member constructed and arranged to be mounted in horizontal position and sup ported in said position at its opposite ends by spaced floor-supporting means, said floor member comprising a top plate forming part of the floor surface when said member is mounted in position, a bottom plate spaced from said top' plate except at the ends of said two plates, 'at least one ofsaid plates comprising three or more plies of wood united with each other in face to face relation, intermediate triangulation means of sheet material disposed between said two plates and extending longitudinally thereof and having alternately upwardly and downwardly converging parts united at their upper and lower ends, respectively, with the adjacent portions of said top and bottom plates, respectively, said two plates and said intermediate triangulation means being united at their adjacent end portions at each end, respectively, of the floor member, said united ends providing means for supporting said opposite ends of the floor member on said spaced floor-supporting means.

9. A floor member constructed and arranged to. be mounted in horizontal position and supspaced floor-supporting means, said floor member comprisinga top plate forming part of the floor surface when said member, is mounted in position, a bottom plate spaced from said top plate except at the ends of said two plates, at least one ofsaid plates comprising an intermediate ply of non-fibrous sheet material and plies of wood united with said intermediate ply in face to face relation therewith on the opposite surface. respectively, thereof, the grain of the wood extending in the direction of the length of the floor member, intermediate triangulation means of sheet material disposed between said two plates and extending longitudinally thereof and having alternately upwardly and downwardly converging parts united at their upper and lower ends, respectively, with the adjacent portions of said t p and bottom plates, respectively, said two plates and said intermediate triangulation means being united at their adjacent end portions at each end, respectively, of the floor member, said united ends providing means for supporting said opposite ends of the floor member on said spaced floorsupporting means.

10. A floor member constructed and arranged to be mounted in horizontal position and supported in said position at its opposite ends by spaced floor-supporting means, said floor member comprising a top plate forming part ofthe floor surface when said member is mounted in position, a bottom plate spaced from said top plate except at the ends of said two plates, intermediate triangulation means of sheet material disposed between said two plates and extending longitudinally thereof and having altematehr upwardly and downwardly converging parts united at their upper and lower ends, respectively, with the adjacent portions of said top and bottom plates, respectively, said two plates and said inrespectively, of said top termediate triangulation means being united at their adjacent end portions at each end, respectively, of the floor member. said united ends providing means for supporting said opposite ends of the iioor member on said spaced floorsupporting means, and a part projecting outwardly beyond one side edge of one of said plates in position to overlap the corresponding plate of a similar adjacent floor member when a plurality of such floor members are in position on said supporting means for forming the floor.

11. A floor member constructed and arranged to be mounted in horizonta1 position and supported in said position at its opposite ends by spaced floor-supporting means, said floor member comprising a top plate forming part of the floor surface when said member is mounted in position, a bottom plate spaced from said top plate except at the ends of said two plates, intermediate triangulation means of sheet material disposed between said two plates and extending longitudinally thereof and having alternately upwardly and downwardly convers parts united at their upper and lower ends, respectively, with the adjacent portions of said top and bottom plates, respectively, said two plates and said intermediate triangulation means being united at their adjacent end portionsat each end, respectively, of the floor member, said united ends providing means for supporting said opposite ends of 'the floor member on said spaced floor-supportingmeans, apartiniixed relation tosaidtop plate at the inner surface thereof and extending longitudinally of said top plate, said last mentioned part projecting outwardly beyond .one side edge of said top plate in position to overlap the corresponding plate of a similar adjacent floor member when a plurality of such floor members are in position on said supporting means for forming the floor.

12. In a floor construction, a plurality of floor members mounted in horiozntal position in edge to edge relation and supported in said position at their opposite ends by spaced floor-supporting means, each of said floor members comprising a top plate forming part of the floor surface when said member is mounted in position, a bottom plate spaced from said top plate except at the ends of said two plates, intermrdiate triangulation means of sheet material disposed between said two plates and extending longitudinally thereof and having alternately upwardly and downwardly converging parts united at their upper and lower ends, respectively, with the adjacent portions of said top and bottom plates, re-

spectively, said triangulation means and said bottom plate having companion end parts at each end, respectively, of said bottom plate integral with said triangulation means and said bottom plate, respectively, and inclined upwardly and outwardly toward the adjacent end of the top plate, said last mentioned upwardly inclined parts being united with each other in abutting face to face relatio and end portions integral with and projecting horizontally from said last mentioned companion parts outwardly of the latter and united with the adjacent end portions, respectively. f said top plate at each end of the floor member and thereby forming means for supporting the floor member at said opposite ends' thereof on said spaced floor-supporting means.

13. In a floor construction, a plurality of floor members mounted in horizontal position in edge to edge relation and supported in said position at their opposite ends by spaced floor-supporting means, each of said floor members comprising a top plate forming part of the floor surface when said member is mounted in position, a bottom plate spaced from said top plate except at the ends of said two plates, intermediate triangulation means of sheet material disposed between said two plates and extending longitudinally thereof and having alternately upwardly and downwardly converging parts united at their upper and lower ends, respectively, with the adjacent portions of said top and bottom plates, respectively, said two plates and said intermediate triangulation means being united at their adjacent end portions at each end, respectively, of the floor member, said united ends providing means for supporting said opposite ends of the floor member on said spaced floor-supporting means, and a part projecting outwardly beyond one side edge of one of said plates of each of said members and overlapping the corresponding plate of the adjacent member.

'PERCIVAL GOODMAN. 

